The Watcher, a Netflix true-crime drama, follows the story of the Broaddus family, who bought their dream home at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey, in 2014. The family moved into the house in 2014, but were never officially moved there. The series follows the real-life events surrounding the Broaddus family, who were inspired by the Brannocks in the show.
In reality, the Broaddus family never moved into the $1. 4 million home, which they eventually rented out and sold in 2019 for $959, 000. The show faithfully portrays the horrifying experience of the real-life Broadduses, who bought their dream home in 2014 for $1. 35 million (not quite the $3. 5 million price tag in the series). However, six months after the letters began, the real-life family began to be harassed by letters signed simply by “The Watcher”.
The Brannocks seen in The Watcher are based on the real-life couple Derek and Maria Broaddus. Three days after the couple closed on their dream home, the Netflix series moved its central family into 657 Boulevard, according to New York. The Broaddus family never officially moved into the house, as they began renovating it from afar after the first letter made them too afraid to move in.
In November 1971, John List murdered his whole family, fatally shooting them over the course of an afternoon. He shot his wife, Helen Morris Taylor, and his three children before going into hiding. In real life, the Broaddus family never officially moved into the house, but they began renovating it from afar after the first letter made them too afraid to move in.
In conclusion, The Watcher is a true-crime drama that follows the real-life events surrounding the Broaddus family, who moved into their dream home at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey. The show’s success has made it a popular choice for viewers to explore the true-crime thriller genre.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| What happened to The Watcher’s real-life Broaddus family | The show faithfully portrays the horrifying experience of the real-life Broadduses, who bought their dream home in Westfield, New Jersey in 2014 … | scmp.com |
| ‘The Watcher’ Real Family: Where The Broadduses Are Now | Derek and Maria Broaddus bought a house in New Jersey. Then, they started receiving mysterious letters from a stranger who knew all about them. | today.com |
| The Horrifying True Story Behind Netflix’s The Watcher | The Brannocks seen in The Watcher are based on the real life couple Derek and Maria Broaddus. Three days after the couple closed on their … | time.com |
📹 Neighbors of the REAL ‘The Watcher’ House Are NOT Happy With New Netflix Series NBC New York
You’ve probably heard about Netflix’s new TV miniseries “The Watcher” by now. It’s one of the creepiest stories in New Jersey …
Is 'The Watcher' Based On A True Story?
The Watcher, a Netflix series created by Ryan Murphy, is inspired by the unsettling true story of the Broaddus family, who experienced a bizarre ordeal after purchasing their dream home at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey. As recounted in Reeves Wiedeman's 2018 New York Magazine article "The Haunting of a Dream House," the couple, Maria and Derek Broaddus, started receiving disturbing letters from an anonymous individual calling themselves "The Watcher." This real-life nightmare transformed their dream home into a frightening reality. The show, while a dramatized adaptation, closely mirrors the events faced by the Broadduses, who found themselves stalked by an unknown tormentor, with investigations failing to uncover their identity. The saga reflects the darker aspects of true crime, as the letters contained chilling messages and threats. Even after numerous investigations by law enforcement and private investigators, the mystery of The Watcher remains unsolved. The series delves into these harrowing events, giving viewers a glimpse into the terrifying experience of living under constant fear. This story captivates audiences, demonstrating the fine line between reality and fiction in horror narratives, as the unsettling truth behind The Watcher continues to intrigue many.
Where Is The Broaddus Family Now?
The Broaddus family, known from "The Watcher," still resides in Westfield, New Jersey, though they never moved into their former house at 657 Boulevard. According to reports from The Cut and People, Derek and Maria Broaddus initially purchased the six-bedroom Dutch colonial home in 2014 for $1. 3 million but soon received threatening letters from an anonymous sender known as "The Watcher." This led them to sell the house in 2019 for $959, 000 to Andrew and Allison Carr. Despite their unsettling experience, the Broaddus family decided to remain in the Westfield area, purchasing a new home using an LLC for privacy.
The original report about their unsettling ordeal has inspired a Netflix miniseries that has gained popularity, even surpassing "Dahmer" as a trending show. The Broaddus family has avoided the public spotlight since selling their house, and details about their current location have remained private. They continue to live in Westfield, a town situated just under an hour from New York City. The Broaddus family has since adjusted to life after the events surrounding 657 Boulevard, while still maintaining their ties to the community in Westfield.
Where Did 'The Watcher' Come From?
The chilling tale of 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey, inspired Netflix's "The Watcher." Derek and Maria Broaddus purchased this seemingly idyllic home for nearly $1. 4 million in June 2014, right after which they began receiving unsettling letters from an anonymous sender, ominously signed "The Watcher." The Broadduses, the basis for the fictional Brannock family in the series, found themselves embroiled in a real-life mystery that transformed their dream into a nightmare.
The series, created by Ryan Murphy, draws from a 2018 New York Magazine article titled "The Haunting of a Dream House," which narrates the couple’s harrowing experience with the stalker. As fear set in, the couple sought the public's attention for answers while grappling with threats concealed in the letters. The supernatural elements, such as the biblical reference to "watchers," add another layer to the story. The show’s second season was confirmed shortly after its premiere, leaving aficionados eager yet baffled regarding its plot's resolution.
The narrative illustrates the terrifying intersection of home and horror, defined by letters that encapsulate a stalker's sinister presence. This haunting saga continues to capture the interest of audiences drawn to real-life crime stories.
Who Lives At 657 Boulevard Now?
657 Boulevard is currently owned by Andrew and Allison Carr, who purchased the property in 2019 for $959, 000 after it was previously owned by Derek and Maria Broaddus. The Broadduses had originally bought the home in June 2014 for $1, 355, 657 but never moved in due to ongoing harassment from a mysterious stalker known as "The Watcher." The property gained notoriety following the Broadduses' experience, which has since been adapted into a Netflix series titled "The Watcher." Although the Broadduses attempted to live in the home, they ultimately decided to rent it out and later sell it at a loss.
As of now, Zillow indicates that 657 Boulevard is off the market and valued at nearly $1. 5 million. While Andrew and Allison Carr are the known owners, it is unclear if they are currently residing in the home. The Broadduses continue to live in Westfield, New Jersey, where they sought a safer living situation after their unsettling experience. The story originally brought to light by Reeves Wiedeman in The Cut details the letters sent to the Broadduses, offering an unsettling glimpse into the history of the property. The iconic house is situated in a picturesque neighborhood and remains a subject of fascination for the public.
Did They Ever Find Out Who The Watcher Was In Real Life?
Despite thorough investigations, the identity of "The Watcher" remains unsolved, disappointing those involved. No arrests have occurred, and there is a lack of evidence to support claims of satanic cult involvement. This story is rooted in Reeves Wiedeman's 2018 article in New York Magazine about Derek and Maria Broaddus, who faced mysterious letters after moving into their dream home at 657 Boulevard, Westfield, NJ. The Netflix series, featuring Bobby Cannavale and Naomi Watts as Dean and Nora Brannock, is inspired by this real-life case.
Unlike the show's depiction, the actual 657 Boulevard differs in appearance from the mansion shown. Despite investigations by police and hired private detectives, the identity of the letter sender remains a mystery. Speculation suggests that this person likely lived nearby, but numerous leads, including a potentially suspicious neighbor, failed to yield results. Since Wiedeman’s publication, the Broaddus family’s plight has garnered public attention, particularly with Netflix's dramatization. Ultimately, despite years of inquiry, the enigma of "The Watcher" continues, with no conclusive answers in sight.
Does The Watcher House Still Get Letters?
The infamous "Watcher" house in Westfield, New Jersey, became notorious when the Broaddus family received threatening letters shortly after purchasing the home in 2014. Despite initially looking forward to their dream home, the couple, later portrayed as the Brannocks in a Netflix series, faced a nightmare as letters signed by "The Watcher" left them feeling unsafe. They received their first letter just three days after closing the deal, instigating their decision to never fully move in. Interestingly, the previous owners of 657 Boulevard had lived there for two decades and received only one letter, sent shortly before their departure.
As of 2022, the new owners, the Carrs, reported no receipt of any letters from The Watcher, wishing to maintain this peace. They have even received a kind note from the Broaddus family. The letters have become a topic of intrigue and dread, particularly due to their chilling contents, which hinted at an unsettling familiarity with the home and its inhabitants. With no further communications from The Watcher since the Broaddus family's exit, the mystery of who the stalker is remains unsolved, while the current occupants continue their life in the house, seemingly free from its haunting past.
Does The Watcher House Still Receive Letters?
The previous owners of 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey, received only one letter in twenty years, sent just before they moved out. The new homeowners, who purchased the house after the Broaddus family's ordeal, have not received any unsettling correspondence, according to The Cut. The Broaddus family experienced a nightmare after acquiring the property in 2014, receiving a series of sinister letters from a mysterious stalker known as "The Watcher." Shortly after they moved in, they received an anonymous letter questioning their presence in the neighborhood.
Following this, the couple struggled with their dream home turning into a source of fear. However, The Cut's 2022 report reveals that the current owners have reported no issues or letters from The Watcher since moving in. They even received a friendly note from the Broadduses, wishing them well.
Despite the rumors and speculation surrounding the Broaddus family's experience, some neighbors and residents of Westfield believe the letters may have been fabricated by the family themselves. As a limited Netflix series based on the events unfolds, the haunting mystery of The Watcher remains unsolved, with the new owners enjoying a quieter life without any distressing letters. The identity of The Watcher continues to elude investigators and the community alike.
What Is 'The Watcher' By Ryan Murphy Based On?
Ryan Murphy's 2022 Netflix miniseries, The Watcher, is inspired by the unsettling true events surrounding the Broaddus family, who purchased a home at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey. The plot revolves around the family's stalker, depicted in the series as anonymous letters threatening them after their move, with the family's name changed to Brannock. These chilling occurrences began shortly after Derek and Maria Broaddus bought their dream home in 2014.
The story was brought to public attention through Reeves Wiedeman's 2018 article in The Cut, detailing the couple's nightmare experience. As the trailer highlights, the series is grounded in shocking reality, illustrating how the couple's idyllic home turned into a horror scenario. The limited series features performances by Bobby Cannavale and Naomi Watts. While the show presents a dramatized retelling, it remains true to the terrifying letters received by the Broaddus couple—letters that questioned their presence at 657 Boulevard and heralded an unsettling presence lurking nearby.
The Watcher encapsulates the essence of "real estate horror," effectively blending fact and fiction while raising questions about whether the events depicted were ever resolved. The show serves as a reminder of the fear that can arise in unexpected places.
Were There Actually Tunnels In The Watcher House?
The tunnels portrayed in the Netflix series "The Watcher" are entirely fictional, created for dramatic effect, as were the child-eating cult and various plot elements. The real 657 Boulevard, where Derek and Maria Broaddus purchased their dream home in Westfield, New Jersey, did not have any secret passages or hidden rooms. Furthermore, there were no instances of neighbors secretly entering the home, nor were there any mysterious murders connected to it.
Although the Westfield Watcher case remains unsolved, the series embellishes the true story for entertainment purposes. Although some real-life neighbors suspiciously placed lounge chairs facing the Broaddus's house, the identity of "The Watcher," who sent harassing letters, was never uncovered, even after possible leads and connections to past residents. Notably, the mansion displayed in the show is located in Westchester County, New York, not in New Jersey, where the actual events occurred.
While the series introduces sinister elements like underground tunnels, the reality is much simpler; the Broaddus family only dealt with unsettling letters without any paranormal encounters. Despite dramatic exaggerations in the series, the true-crime story began in 2014 and remains rooted in the bizarre experiences of the Broaddus family without any of the show’s fictional embellishments.
📹 The spooky history of ‘The Watcher’ town Nightline
The hit Netflix show about an unknown letter-sender known as “The Watcher” is shining the spotlight on Westfield, New Jersey, …
Yes everyone is perfectly normal. 😂 especially the lady on the thumbnail. I would have left the letters unopened in the mailbox. 😂 It drives the nuts …. NUTS ! To be ignored like that. Go to the Walmart get a weapon, a shotgun gun, don’t be fancy…..something to load into it that’ll kill a bear from a safe distance. And be done with it. Nobody touches the envelopes. Everyone in the family has to be on board. No reading the letters! It’ll drive him out of the shadows….from pure rage.
I don’t understand why can’t they trace the letter through post office like who sent it ? If it was not sent by post office then they should have planted a camera near the mail box to see who is putting letter in it and if they had dna from the letter they should take the sample of neighbours and try to match them,at first when Andrew told them there’s a tunnel and even the letter mentioned about the basement they should have checked it in the beginning and put a camera in it and they find a bunker where the watcher was living in they there must be some clue in that bunker and they should call the police and see where these tunnel are going there are several loop wholes in the series and if it’s based on true events then i would say those people were stupid even if dean talked with jhon then they would have made a sketch of him and ask people around about have they seen this man or not there must be a record of him in police database if he murdered his own family
Anytime something appears on Netflix that’s based on true events, people will drive to visit the place. Like Chris Watts house. I heard how people drove to visit the house, just to film it. I find that eerie. They’ll do anything to put it on their social media or YouTube website for their subscribers. What is our world coming too?! 😒
Plenty of shows are set in random cities across the country that portray real people and real events. Just because a thriller story was inspired by a true event in Westfield, doesn’t mean the show is slandering all the townsfolk. I’d think they should be happy that a series is bringing so much tourist revenue into their little town. 🤷♀️
Is the lady who’s interviewed 0:27 the next-door neighbor Abby Langford? Or maybe Peggy? Wait probably not Peggy she just died in 2020. The whole family lived in the house next door. I personally think Michael Langford was “The Watcher”. Michael “loved” Halloween and never married and had no children. Michael also just died in 2022.
I think Watcher was narcissist and psychopath. It was needed to ignore him, that’s all. Watcher was feeding by their energy and fear. The family which threw away his letters was healthy. No reaction. – no feed for watcher. Just keep letters and collect them, unopened. No need to give power to someone who threatens you.
Yeah I will say that, the family never moved into the house because they received two weirddd letters, one calling their children young blood and the other saying where they sleep, which room is who’s and that they should never go into the basement! So yeah they rented it out and the letters were still coming then they stopped when the family moved out
One – despite being a show, this really happened to the family who bought it. The sellers knew about the letters too. The whole town knew about it, so Im not sure why that first neighbor is acting like it’s fake. Also family annihilator John List did his crimes in Westfield – that’s who John Graff is based on. Westfield is beautiful, but bad things happen everywhere. You have a 1/6500 chance of being involved in a violent crime in Westfield. So I guess that’s pretty good, but it can still happen.
People would stop going when they actually find out who was the watcher, I think that’s the only way or just when the hype for the house is gone, you know it is like that now because is the boom of the moment but in a few years is gonna change, good thing I guess that whoever’s perusal or was perusal is gonna be scared of all the people who already knows about it because basically the whole country knows now
I haven’t watched the series but I know of the watcher house and I believe they said they have the DNA of someone who actually wrote the letters, which was a woman they could have taken that DNA and put it through a DNA database to find out who exactly wrote those letters. But for now, it still remains a mystery.
It’s THE REALTOR! she and the cop own the LLC and they scare people into selling their homes for way below market then sell it again for more than asking… like they did to this family. They also did it to the previous owners! It seems obvious but who knows because that investigator is definitely in on it also! I’m only on episode 7 so still perusal but that’s my thoughts for the day. Lol
Looks like the watcher is getting all the credit here. Not the people who live there from the Netflix series looks like the watch is getting all the credit you know. But the watcher could be anybody could be the neighbour next-door could be the neighbours children across the street you know. That are doing that for joke but it’s not funny not funny at all Some people do that because they think it’s funny you know what it’s really not that funny when they end up in jail I have to pay a huge huge huge fine Then they will learn their lesson you know Yeah it’s probably just the neighbours children from like two streets over lol it very well could be you know. Or it could be a 80-year-old man or an 86-year-old woman you know he was doing that he sending those creepy letters to that house. You never know what the reasoning is and I don’t really care either what the reasoning is for that it’s just an excusable and if they ever get caught damn well should be in jail or be on probation no. Whatever they should get in trouble anyway
Whoever sent the letters had lived in the house before. A Harper Lee ! The watcher ….is perusal that nothing is changed in the house..wants it to stay the way they remember it! Maybe even wanted to buy it back! Remember Broaddus wanted to demolish it. I believe it’s a woman ..an avid reader who picked up the signature…the watcher…from a book! The letters may be real but the rest of the goings on is coincidental. The basement is the usual place for scary stories. The watcher definitely lived in the house before! Neighbours might be still in contact with the watcher informing them of anything they need to know! She will also have family…who will like her and her father before ..take up the gauntlet…unless they are caught! I see the neighbour has passed on!!??
I read these comment and I find funny the many angry comments about disturbing this neighborhood by tourists. These people were really assholes to the new owners from the city like good close-minded townpeople. One or all of them abused the family to such an extent that they had to leave their dreamhouse. Because someone felt himself/herself entitled to dictate others what they can do with their own property and felt entitled to chase away them if they are not in line with his/her will. The other family knew this and bought the house at a discount. But i feel sorry for them. Not for the Watcher and other neighbors helped him/her more than the family. In Europe, people build a fence around their house and don’t care what the neighbour is doing with his own house, where he moved from, when etc.
I’m sorry but these neighbors need to get over it. The people that this happened to even though they just got letters and name is said that’s all I got was letters they gave Netflix the rights to their story and most people know movies and TV shows are not based on actual people know that so so they need to get over it Because what do you think they’re sharing a bad life but you complaining well they don’t make you look any better I mean I don’t know me personally if I was you know when a documentary like that or whatever talk about it, you know like neighbors and I was a neighbor in that area. I won’t be upset about it at all. I mean hell most neighborhoods would like that kind of tension will like some torture, attraction or whatever but OK that’s just I guess around here With something when you get the hell over it, they need their permission they want people that this happened to their only ones that did you know I’m happy that they’re the ones that you gave permission for and they listen to them when they want information on I mean they don’t need some information to fully do a story on them for the rest. The movie out every knows is fictional by now so I’m sorry for this new thing just need to get over it.
The show bears such little resemblance to the actual events it claims to be based on that, to be honest, I don’t even know why they bothered to claim the show was an adaptation of the story of the Watcher at all. And, truth be told, I actually think the real-life events could have made for a great film (some kind of character-driven psychological drama or something). But the series is just ridiculous – like, it’s laughably bad – (and I say that as someone who’s genuinely enjoyed several of the creators’ other series). But you’d have to have the cognitive faculties of a lobotomised capsicum to take it even remotely seriously; much less be offended by it. Like, I can understand the residents being mildly annoyed about the influx of half-wits sweeping their community, but if these folks are genuinely insulted by this dumpster-fire of a television series, then I think it’s safe to say that they’ve never acutally had a real problem before in their lives.
It looks like this neighborhood is about to get a taste of what another “Beautiful Dutch Colonial”, at 112 Ocean Ave., gave to the citizens of Amityville, Long Island, for the past,(nearly) 50 years. It was the 1st thing I thought of,when perusal this news piece. Anyone else? (And, might I add…Wow. I’ve heard the story,but never knew that the show on Netflix was about it. Netflix has been a BLAZING dumpster fire for SO LONG,I haven’t bothered to check it out. But, I think I’ll check it out,now.
I started perusal it but it turned out to be really boring, introducing at every possible turn a new twist that instead of making it more interesting, it made it more unnecessarily “complicated”. It got reall y dull and overwhelming. Can today’s “writers” come up with something simple, but terrifying like Hitchcok? Too much to ask, because that was a brilliant mind, and this is too much capitalism and very, very tiny quality Also all the cursing is so uncool and unnecessary, it just covers up its dullness.
The watcher was or if still alive is probably just waiting for a family to move into the house that they think deserves it and respects it n loves it like he does maybe due to never having such nice things as a kid with a sociopathic rush to make people scared n live in fear. And have the allure that he or she is some mystery to be solved just feeds the narcissism. And maybe the current owners living there today I think he may like or all the conspirators got old and died or too old to be in the game😂😂🤷🏻♂️
“𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎.” The reporter delivered that line with 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 intensity, that I’m now questioning whether the family or the house even actually exist. (Also, I’m like 98.5% certain that the journalist is also probably the Watcher.)